Riley ready for a clean slate

November 07, 2006|JACOB SANDOCK Tribune Staff Writer

The 2005-06 season was a tumultuous one for head coach Randy Cook and the Riley Wildcats. Due to disciplinary problems, the Riley roster seemed an ever-changing equation and the results showed in the Wildcats' 6-17 (3-5, Northern Indiana Conference) finish. "We just want to really get to know each other and have fun this year," said Cook of the 2006-07 campaign -- which begins for Riley tonight on the road at Concord. "I think last year, having to boot three players off the team when the season started out set a negative tone for the whole year. But this year, with the group I have, I'm not too worried about (discipline issues) at all." But there are other issues, Cook admitted. First off, the fact that he does not have anyone on the roster over 5-foot-8 inches. Add this to the absence of two experienced players in Sherelle Granderson and Tamina Ewing and some would say it could be tough going for the Wildcats this year. But Cook said that what they do have at Riley this year is more important; a clean slate and a new attitude. "The number one thing I'm stressing is that we want to compete in every game," said Cook. To do so, the Wildcats will rely on the strength of three returning players from last year in seniors Tyria Lax and Sunsea Shaw and junior Ashlin Sanders. "Last year Tyria was a double-figures scorer for us at about 15 points a game and she averaged a double-double in conference play," Cook said. "We're certainly hoping for her to come somewhat close to those totals or even do a bit better this year." Lax is active in the paint, if not a traditional interior presence, and is always around the basket. Shaw, whom Cook called the "intensity leader" of his squad, will be expected to hustle her way into double-digit scoring totals for a team that will likely have to score a lot of points to stay in games. "Sunsea is kind of the intensity leader on this team, she just loves to compete and I don't have to motivator her at all," said Cook of Shaw, who will see most her time at the three slot. "Tyria Lax, Shaw and (sophomore) Ashlin Sanders are the three players we're going to depend on a lot. The other players with less experience, we'll have to bring them along." Brittney Burton, a 5-5 senior, is expected to have a bigger role this year on the interior -- Cook said she won't be the only Riley defender this year finding herself up against bigger opponents. "The first few games I'm going to be looking at our quickness," Cook said of how he will try to compensate for the team's lack of size. "I'll be trying to see if we can get an advantage by running some half-court, and sometimes full-court, pressure. Hopefully if we do that enough, I'm hoping we won't have to worry about opponents throwing it down into the post that much." Sanders will likely run the floor for Cook, but if junior Brittany Lax can take some of the ball handling duties as the season goes on, Cook would like to be able to move Sanders to the two-spot. Cook also hopes to have 6-foot junior forward Shaniqua Williams ready for varsity action by Christmas. Her size alone, Cook said, would help not only defensively, but on offense as well. "Just by being able to throw it in to somebody, opponents will have to pay attention to it and hopefully that will open up things on the outside," said Cook, who added that they key to success for his team revolves around defense. "We have to find ways to stop people, we gave up a lot of points last year. We'll find ways, I think, to put points on the board, but we have to stop people." Along with Williams, Cook hopes to mix juniors Tiffany Fowler and Kylie Segner into the rotation this year. Fowler brings some good athleticism to the table, while Segner has one of the better shooting touches on the team.